When you are playing on the road in the Big 12 you've got to bring your absolute best game especially when playing a top 25 team. Oklahoma didn't do that on Saturday! Despite playing tremendous defense, that included seven blocked shots and holding the Aggies to only 35% shooting from the floor, Oklahoma couldn't take advantage of opportunities and couldn't take care of the basketball.
During a six plus minute stretch in the second half when Texas A&M was scoreless OU only managed to score just three baskes of their own. Sure, we'll give credit where it is due and go ahead and admit that Texas A&M played their own brand of stingy defense. However, 26 missed shots, 5 missed free throws, -7 rebounding margin, 12 turnovers and most notably not scoring a single basket during the final 3:23 seconds are all attributes of sloppy play combined with a very solid defensive effort.
Oklahoma's post game was far from great. Longar and Taylor Griffin both fouled out neither made it to double figures in scoring. In fact, none of Oklahoma's big men scored in double figures, Longar had 9, Taylor Griffin had 4 and Blake only 6.
Other than David Godbold, who scored a career high 22 points, Oklahoma's guard play was just pathetic. Tony Crocker was 1-8 from the floor with four turnovers and Austin Johnson was 2-5.
The good news for the Sooners is that with a 3-3 conference record we are a long way from even being tempted to press the panic button. I would say that OU is still a tournament team and still very capable of finishing top 5 or 6 in the conference. Everyone is subject to a bad day at the office and despite a poor day on the road Oklahoma only came up 8 points shy.